Methods
| Ion source | ChemZo (BioChromato) |
| Mass Spectrometer | compact QTOF (Bruker) |
| Measurement Method | Two types of commercially available cola, A and B, were introduced into the mass spectrometer (MS) through a tube to analyze their aromas. The samples were measured at room temperature in positive mode, with each sample measured for 30 seconds, repeated three times. |
| Data Processing | The aromatic components that differed between cola A and B were extracted using Spectra Scope's differential analysis (IDS). Subsequently, a database search was performed with Compound Search, and the estimated molecular formulas were listed. |
Results
The components that differed between the two colas were automatically extracted using IDS, and the results were presented in a radar chart (Fig. 1). Multiple aromatic components showed intensity differences between cola A (red) and cola B (blue). For example, m/z = 135.0802, m/z = 137.1322, and m/z = 155.1426 were detected in both colas, but their intensities were more than twice as high in cola B compared to cola A.
Colas are known to use citrus flavors. Based on the measurement results of standard substances, m/z = 135.0802 is estimated to be the dehydrogenated peak of limonene, while m/z = 137.1322 is estimated to be the dehydration peak of linalool. 